Press: GOP owes apology to America

God is good. Finally! This execrable 2016 presidential election crawls to a close today. And there’s no doubt what should happen next.

Tonight, we count the votes. First thing tomorrow morning, Republican leaders should line up to apologize for the pain, humiliation and monumental embarrassment they’ve inflicted on the American people by nominating Donald Trump.

{mosads}Start with the also-rans. Marco Rubio should apologize for calling Trump “a dangerous con artist,” for even tweeting out “Friends don’t let friends vote for con artists” — and then voting for him, anyway. Ted Cruz — or “Lyin’ Ted,” as Trump calls him — should apologize for hearing Trump accuse his father of associating with JFK killer Lee Harvey Oswald — and yet still voting for him. So should Carly Fiorina apologize for letting Trump call her ugly — “Look at that face!” — and then supporting him. Do they have no self-respect?

Add the shameless Republican senators up for reelection. New Hampshire’s Kelly Ayotte, who had to finally admit that the GOP nominee was no role model for her children, but still agreed to support him, if not “endorse” him. Same cop-out for Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson — support, but not endorse — who has nevertheless out-trumped Trump by already calling for Hillary Clinton’s impeachment. Only to be topped by the spineless Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Joe Heck of Nevada who, despite all the outrageous things Donald Trump has said, will still not state whether they will vote for him. Which means they probably will. 

Next up, Speaker Paul Ryan: no profile in courage. First, Ryan went through the motions of summoning Trump to Washington for a “come to Jesus” meeting at Republican National Committee headquarters, after which he still withheld his endorsement. He finally did endorse, a few weeks later, but refused to campaign with him. Then refused to defend him after the Oct. 7 release of the videotape in which Trump bragged about grabbing women’s genitals. But still insisted he would vote for “the nominee of his party,” while refusing to utter Trump’s name until the last day of the campaign. How many ways can you demonstrate that you’re not born to be a leader of anything? Ask Paul Ryan.

Topping the list: Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who stood by and allowed the party he leads to be hijacked by a man who, if he even is a Republican, stands for everything the Republican Party is against. Donald Trump says he opposed the war in Iraq; the GOP’s for it. Donald Trump has said he’s for single-payer health insurance; the GOP’s against it. Donald Trump is, at best, silent on same-sex marriage; the GOP’s dead-set against. Does the Republican Party really stand for anything? Does Priebus?

And, finally, the entire Republican Party, top to bottom, owes the American people an apology for subjecting us to the least qualified, least experienced, least knowledgeable, most profane, most embarrassing and most unhinged presidential candidate in the history of the republic. 

America is better than this. The Republican Party is better than this. The party may be able to rebuild. But it must start by apologizing for Donald Trump. 

Press is host of “The Bill Press Show” on Free Speech TV and author of “Buyer’s Remorse: How Obama Let Progressives Down.”